Summers can be hot, humid, and totally uncomfortable, even during the night. It’s also not easy on the pockets to keep the air conditioner running all day long. While it is important to keep the body and the room cool in order to get a decent amount of shut-eye, you don’t have to stretch your pocket too much to do so. Fortunately, here are some neat hacks for keeping yourself cool on hot summer nights.
Tips for Keeping Cool on Hot Summer Nights
Summer nights can be sweaty, sticky, and hot if you don’t have the right ambiance for a good night’s sleep. Here are some easy tricks for setting up a conducive environment every night.
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Ice your body:
Fill a hot water bottle and stick it in the freezer. Place it on your bed for some cooling relief. You can also apply it to your wrists, elbows, ankles, groin, and neck to cool the main pulse points of the body.
- Cold compress:
Fill a cotton sock with rice, tie it up, and keep in the freezer for a few hours. Use this sock as a cold compress to cool your body.
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Chill your sheets:
Place your sheets in a big ziplock or plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator or freezer for a while before its time for bed. These cool sheets can help lower the body temperature and ease you into sleep.
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Cool cotton is a must:
Pick light-weight cotton sheets over silk or synthetic materials to keep the bed cool at night. You could also dampen a towel or sheet with cool water and use it instead of your blanket. Make sure you place a dry towel under it to soak the moisture.
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Wear loose clothes:
Simple, loose cotton shorts, tees, pajamas, or underwear are the best-preferred summertime night outfits.
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Cool off with a fan and ice cubes:
Revive an old trick by placing a tray full of ice cubes in front of a fan. This can help distribute cooler air throughout the room.
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Use fans efficiently:
Place tower fans facing out so that they push the hot air out while a ceiling fan running counter-clockwise can complement it by sucking up the hot air and pushing it out instead of letting it circulate in the room.
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Hydrate before sleeping:
Sweating through the night can dehydrate the body, so make sure you drink at least a glass of water before hitting the sack.
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Unplug before bedtime:
Remeber to turn off the lights and unplug all your small appliances as they contribute to the ambient temperature inside a home.
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Take a cool shower:
A cold shower can help lower your body temperature and could promote good sleep.
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Eat a light dinner:
Pick simple salads or sandwiches instead of hot soups or pasta. Also, avoid running the oven, which can easily increase the temperature in your kitchen and nearby areas.
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Ditch the mattress:
Choose to sleep on a simple bamboo mat or a thin carpet, as these do not retain heat like your comfortable pillow-top mattress.
Foods That Can Cool the Body
Eating right is also important to beat the heat during summer nights. Here are some foods that can cool the body:
- Melons like cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew
- Coconut water
- Cucumber
- Cold milk
- Fenugreek seeds
- Radish
- Mint
It doesn’t matter whether you choose to cool off with ice and a fan or with rice-filled socks, what’s important is that you are cool and comfortable through the hot summer months.
References
24 Tricks to Survive Hot Summer Nights (Without AC). (2017, May 30). Retrieved from https://greatist.com/happiness/tricks-to-sleep-in-the-heat
S. (2017, April 20). 12 Foods To Reduce Body Heat. Retrieved from https://www.boldsky.com/health/wellness/2013/foods-reduce-body-heat/articlecontent-pf6525-032766.html
